WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) praised Senate passage of a resolution promoting the importance of minority health and efforts to end health disparities. S. Res. 428, which recognized April as Minority Health Awareness Month, passed by unanimous consent. A companion resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Al Green (D-Texas).

“Inequalities in health status and health care exact an enormous human and economic toll on our nation that we simply cannot afford. We cannot accept the status quo– where African American children have a 60 percent higher prevalence of asthma than white children, or one where Native Americans and Alaska Natives are more than twice as likely to have diabetes as whites. Your race, ethnicity or zip code should not dictate your health status,” said Senator Cardin. “Our work is unfinished, but now we have a national strategy for quality improvement with more tools and resources at our disposal to fight the challenges inherent in our health care system.” Read more